| Abstract [eng] |
Mechanical ventilation is a critical treatment used by hospitals round the world. This thesis consists of two parts. The first part consists of a literature review that will explore the physiology, historical background, evolution of mechanical ventilators, evolution of techniques involved in mechanical ventilation, differentiate a standard ventilated patient from a long term ventilated one, explore different outcomes such as mortality, healthcare costs, the biomechanics involved in mechanical ventilation, analyse the clinical impact of mechanical ventilation, different control methods and alternatives to mechanical ventilation. The second part of the thesis includes a scoping review of the Long-Term Outcomes in Mechanically Ventilated Patients. This review attempts map and synthesise available data of the outcomes of mechanically ventilated patients, identify and analyse the resources that are currently available for the topic, identify current knowledge gaps and describe relevant characteristics of the relevant studies presented. This thesis is separated in two parts in order to clearly differentiate the narrative synthesis performed in Part I in terms of mechanically ventilated patients from the systematic mapping conducted in the Part II scoping review. This structure allows for a comprehensive exploration of the topic by first tracing the historical development of mechanical ventilation, examining its evolution in clinical practice, and analysing key advancements that have shaped current approaches. This approach provides foundational understanding that aids the synthesis and analytical component presented in Part II, that additionally uses a broader scope of literature to assess trends and areas that are in need of further investigation. Finally, a comprehensive conclusion will finalize the thesis, summarizing key facts presented in both parts, and highlight issues relating to both parts of the thesis. |
